Strauser works come home to East Stroudsburg

Monday

Apr 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Who would have thought that a small painting, hung on an easel outside a Long Island gallery in 1964, would be the catalyst in 2012 for the largest donation of a single artist's work to East Stroudsburg University?

KAREN M. HARRIS

Who would have thought that a small painting, hung on an easel outside a Long Island gallery in 1964, would be the catalyst in 2012 for the largest donation of a single artist's work to East Stroudsburg University?

That small floral caught 2nd Lt. Grey Carter's eye as he drove through Hampton Bays.

"It was a powerful painting," he recalled. He stopped to inquire about the delphiniums — "not that I'm drawn to flowers" — and struck up a conversation with gallery owner Ray King.

The Sterling Strauser painting was small and inexpensive, so Carter bought it.

"I was a second lieutenant and didn't make any money flying planes," he said.

A few weeks after he bought that Strauser, King called him and asked if he wanted to visit the artist.

"He said they named the town for him," Carter deadpanned. "Strauserburg."

Carter agreed, and thus began a vast collection and a deep admiration that lasted until Strauser's death in 1995.

"I considered him a great friend and mentor," Carter said.

To honor that relationship, Carter and his wife, Linda, of McClean, Va., began to look for a place to donate part of their huge collection.

He talked with museums and institutions, then talked with friends and colleagues to narrow the field. Many thought it should be in Pennsylvania, since that is where Strauser lived.

"Several people asked if I had explored ESU," he said. "It's a lovely little college and only two blocks from where Sterling and Dorothy lived."

One of those people championing ESU was Andrew Worthington, president and CEO of the Bushkill Group, who is also a Strauser collector.

"He learned that Grey wanted to donate works," said Richard Staneski, ESU vice president of finance and administration.

"Andy felt that ESU was the only appropriate place since Strauser lived two blocks away, on Analomink Street."

Carter and school administrators, including Dean Peter Hawkes and Staneski, plus Robert Metzger, the former director of the Reading Public Museum, discussed the possibility of ESU becoming the repository for the collection.

The idea fit in nicely with the college's plan for the new Keystone Center, Staneski said, which will house the university center and library, replacing the current center and a building behind it.

The Sterling Strauser Gallery will open upon completion of the first phase, targeted for 2015 at the earliest, and will contain 114 works. Until then, some of the paintings will be housed in a temporary collection in the Innovation Center. Others are in storage.

"We are honored to bring The Sterling Strauser Gallery to East Stroudsburg University," said ESU President Robert Dillman. "Sterling and his wife, Dorothy, were considered art icons in the Pocono region, and it seems only fitting to bring their art 'home' to East Stroudsburg, to be shared with their former neighbors, our students and visitors."

Strauser was one of several fine artists who made the area home, said Laura Goss, executive director of PoconoArts Council. "This is a fine tribute to Sterling and what he did in the community."

The collection is a representative example of Strauser's work through the decades.

"We wanted to give a range of pieces, in size and scale," said Carter. "We wanted to cover a lot of years, from the '30s to late in his career, and we wanted a range in quality."

Carter revealed that Strauser would grade his own work, putting a letter on the back of each piece.

"He considered A to be a home run," he said. "Others were given B or C."

Those that were given a D were not graded. "D stood for Dorothy, his wife," said Carter. "A D meant that she liked the painting and she would have to give her OK to release it."

ESU will have a selection of each grade — fitting for an educational institute.

"Many that we gifted are favorites," said Carter, adding that he hopes other collectors will add to the gallery.

Among the pieces are some of Strauser's most iconic, including "The Circus," "Mother's Funeral," "Nancy Emma" and "Spring is Bursting Out."

Others are a self-portrait and signature florals.

"It's so meaningful to me that other people will share these," Carter said.

"The collection is marvelous, and it's just the beginning," Staneski said. "There is so much more we can do here. We can hold classes, have visiting artist series. We would like to expand this collection that we're so fortunate to have and include Sterling's circle of friends. The possibilities are endless."